Obit: Dykstra, Paula Jane (1935 - 2009) 

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org  
 

Surnames: Dykstra, Bradbury, Orr 
 

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) August 5, 2009 
 

Dykstra, Paula Jane (6 July 1935 - 27 July 2009) 
 

Paula Jane Dykstra, 74, of St. Cloud, MN, died July 27, 2009, in St. Cloud. 
 

Paula was born to Pearl and Lewis Bradbury July 6, 1935, at Neillsville. She graduated from high school in Lakefield, MN and attended Mankato State University.  She married Donald Dykstra at Lakefield Dec. 26, 1954, and they lived in Jackson, Worthington and Marshall, MN; Milwaukee and Sheboygan; and Dickinson, ND, before moving to St. Cloud. 
 

Paula loved her family, her husband, children and granddaughter and extended family with great care and enthusiasm. She put similar love and enthusiasm into her varied work life, most recently as a realtor and partner in Castle Realty.  Paula served her communities in a host of roles, including service as worthy matron of the Order of the Eastern Star in Dickinson, ND, and membership in the St. Cloud Chapter and the Shrine Hospital Auxiliary.  She served as a director on the Minnesota State College and University Board.   
 

Paula was a large and small "D" Democrat and worked tirelessly for candidates and issues that mattered in the lives of families locally and nationally.  She was a Delegate to the National Democratic Convention in 1984.  Her local passions bore fruit in work for victims of domestic violence, for the homeless, for Habitat for Humanity and through a host of other worthy causes.  Paula was a member of First Presbyterian Church of St. Cloud. 
 

Paula was a swimmer as a young woman and was recognized as the youngest person certified in Minnesota as a water safety instructor.  Paula enjoyed travel, golf, bridge and cooking for countless family gatherings, including preparing her signature mints for a niece’s wedding earlier in July.  A gifted singer, Paula could easily be lured into a medley of Broadway show tunes or goofy songs to entertain children.  She treated her many nieces and nephews and children of friends as her own. Her granddaughter, Grace, was her treasure.  "Doing good" was her guide to living each day. 
 

Paula is survived by her husband, Don, St. Cloud; her son, Brad (Trisha) Dykstra; granddaughter, Grace, of Anoka; her daughter, Dana (Randy) Orr of Las Vegas; brothers, Al (Marty) Bradbury of Golden Valley, John (Mary) Bradbury of Savannah, GA, and Warren (Jackie) Bradbury of St. Cloud, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, other family members and countless friends. 
 

A service of celebration was held July 30 at Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home in Sauk Rapids, MN, and interment July 31, at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.